Katie Olszowy

Dr. Olszowy has pursued research related to these themes in Colombia (2008), the Republic of Vanuatu (2011-present), Cleveland, Ohio (2015-present), and New Mexico (2020). Her current research streams include:

1. An ongoing study of health transitions related to economic development in Vanuatu in collaboration with researchers at the University of Quebec, Binghamton University, and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health.
2. Investigation of the role of gender inequality as a contributor to obesity disparities between men and women in Vanuatu and in Cleveland, Ohio in collaboration with researchers at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
3. An ongoing study of mental and physical health outcomes associated with population displacement due to volcanic activity in Vanuatu in collaboration with researchers at the University of Quebec and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. You can read more about this project here.
4. Emerging projects in Doña Ana County colonias on 1) water insecurity and diabetes risk and 2) gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic response in collaboration with Dr. Mary Alice Scott, a medical anthropologist in the Department of Anthropology, and with the Doña Ana County Department of Health & Human Services.

Dr. Olszowy is always interested in working with students, both undergraduates and graduate students, who are passionate about participating in anthropological research. Take a look at work being done by Dr. Olszowy’s student, Hailey Taylor, here.

Dancause KN and Olszowy KM. Commentary: Identifying actionable lifestyle risk factors for obesity research and intervention: Challenges and opportunities for Pacific Island health researchers. The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100040.

Therrien AS, Buffa G, Roome AB, Standard E, Pomer A, Obed J, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN. 2020. Relationships between prenatal distress and infant body mass index in the first year of life in a lower-middle income country. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197351

Therrien AS, Buffa G, Roome AB, Standard E, Pomer A, Obed J, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN. 2020. Relationships between prenatal distress, diet, and birth outcomes in a lower-middle income country: “Healthy mothers, healthy communities” study in Vanuatu. American Journal of Human Biology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23500

Zahlawi T, Roome AB, Chan CW, Campbell JJ, Obed J, Iaruel J, Taleo G, Tarivonda L, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN. 2019. Psychosocial support during displacement due to a natural disaster: relationships with distress in a lower-middle income country. International Journal of Public Health. DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihy099

Van Horn A, Weitz CA, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN, Sun C, Pomer A, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Chan CW, Kaneko A, Lum JK, Garruto RM. 2019. Using multiple correspondence analysis to identify behavior patterns associated with overweight and obesity in Vanuatu adults. Public Health Nutrition. DOI: https://10.1017/S1368980019000302

Olszowy KM, Little MA, Pomer A, Dancuase KN, Chan CW, Sun C, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Kaneko A, Weitz C, Lum JK, Garruto RM. 2018. Coming to grips with economic development: Variation in adult hand grip strength during health transition in Vanuatu. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Olszowy KM, Pomer A, Dancause KN, Chan CW, Sun C, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Kaneko A, Weitz C, Lum JK, Garruto RM. 2017. Secular change in adult stature associated with modernization in Vanuatu. American Journal of Human Biology. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23008.

Weitz CA, Olszowy KM, Dancause KN, Sun C, Pomer A, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Chan CW, Kaneko A, Lum JK, Garruto RM. 2017. Rolling tobacco in banana leaves, newspaper or copybook paper associated with significant reduction in lung function in Vanuatu. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. DOI: 10.1177/1010539517696552.

Sun S, Pomer A, Dancause KN, Chan C, Olszowy KM, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Taleo G, Regenvanu R, Kaneko K, Weitz CA, Garruto RM, Lum JK. 2016. Adoption of consumer electronics as a risk factor for obesity during health transition in Vanuatu. American Journal of Human Biology. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22928.

Olszowy KM, Pomer A, Dancuase KN, Chan CW, Sun C, Silverman H, Lee G, Tarivonda L, Taleo G, Abong M, Reganvanu R, Kaneko A, Weitz C, Lum JK, Garruto RM. 2015. Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in Vanuatu. American Journal of Human Biology. 27: 832-844.

Olszowy KM, Lavelle J, Rachfal K, Hempstead S, Drouin K, Darcy JM, Reiber C, Garruto RM. 2014. Six-year follow-up of a point-source exposure to CWD contaminated venison in an Upstate New York community: Risk behaviors and health outcomes 2005-2011. Public Health. 128: 860-868.

Olszowy KM, Dufour DL, Bender RL, Bekelman T, Reina JC. 2012. Socioeconomic status, stature, and obesity in women: 20-year trends in urban Colombia. American Journal of Human Biology. 24: 602-610.